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Monsters, Ghosts and Goblins Take Over Long Beach for Third-Annual ‘Midsummer Scream’

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Hall of Shadows Midsummer Scream

Boils, ghouls, goblins and monsters came out in hordes for the third annual Midsummer Scream Convention. Midsummer Scream has called the Long Beach Convention Center home since it started back in 2016. With an endless array of talent, creativity, pop culture, and massive show floors, Midsummer Scream kicked off convention season with epic proportions.

Located smack-dab in the heart of Long Beach, California, Midsummer Scream brings horror to the port beach city. While the location is beautiful – with views of the ocean located just across the street – the congestion from traffic is a true horror.

After driving around for 30+ minutes, we were able to find a parking structure a couple of blocks away. The traffic was crazy! I firsthand witnessed an accident ensue while trying to find a place to park. Needless to say, the traffic had people in shambles.

Once inside, the atmosphere was delightfully spooky. From the moment you reached the entrance to Midsummer Scream, the sight of costumed guests welcomed us. With an abundant amount of space, this array of spooks was fun for the whole family.

Slashback Video Mystic Museum

Vendors from all through the country flock to display their unique works of art. Props, makeup, home goods, and fashion are just a few of the items that can be found in the 224,000 square-foot space.  

Scattered in between the endless aisles of merchandise laid the hidden gems: limited edition works of art, signed posters, and professional grade effects makeup. I felt like a kid in a candy store.

Props Midsummer Scream

Within the confines of the massive Halloween tribute was the Hall of Shadows; a separate wing full of scare mazes put on by haunters, theme parks and the likes. This years was the biggest.

The lines were long and the walkthroughs lasted only minutes; a taste of what is to come in October.

The fan favorite: a tribute to Trick ‘R Treat, complete with scenes that looked like they were pulled straight from the film. With some lines taking longer than 45 minutes, we were sadly unable to walk through them all.

Scare Maze Midsummer Scream

Classes offered guests the ability to learn from the masters themselves. Photo opportunities with celebrities like Kimberly J. Brown and the fan favorite Elvira were also available. Panels and Q&As with cast members of Hocus Pocus and the minds behind Halloween Horror Nights were among the popular offerings.

With so much to see, Midsummer Scream delighted even non-horror fans. There truly was something for everyone.

Horror Made Here The Conjuring Midsummer Scream

With a small bag full of goodies, I commenced my trek back to my car. My cold, black, heart, filled with chilling warmth from all the glorious sights.

Midsummer Scream might still be new to the convention world, but if this year showed us anything, is it is not one to be missed! 

For more on Horror and Comic Conventions, click here to view our past coverage!

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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel

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Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.

According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.

Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.

As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:

“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “

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New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie

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Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Trailer

This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.

Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.

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Original Blair Witch Cast Ask Lionsgate for Retroactive Residuals in Light of New Film

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The Blair Witch Project Cast

Jason Blum is planning to reboot The Blair Witch Project for the second time. That’s a fairly large task considering none of the reboots or sequels have managed to capture the magic of the 1999 film that brought found footage into the mainstream.

This idea has not been lost on the original Blair Witch cast, who has recently reached out to Lionsgate to ask for what they feel is fair compensation for their role in the pivotal film. Lionsgate gained access to The Blair Witch Project in 2003 when they purchased Artisan Entertainment.

Blair witch
The Blair Witch Project Cast

However, Artisan Entertainment was an independent studio before its purchase, meaning the actors were not part of SAG-AFTRA. As a result, the cast are not entitled to the same residuals from the project as actors in other major films. The cast doesn’t feel that the studio should be able to continue to profit off of their hard work and likenesses without fair compensation.

Their most recent request asks for “meaningful consultation on any future ‘Blair Witch’ reboot, sequel, prequel, toy, game, ride, escape room, etc., in which one could reasonably assume that Heather, Michael & Josh’s names and/or likenesses will be associated for promotional purposes in the public sphere.”

The blair witch project

At this time, Lionsgate has not offered any comment about this issue.

The full statement made by the cast can be found below.

OUR ASKS OF LIONSGATE (From Heather, Michael & Josh, stars of “The Blair Witch Project”):

1. Retroactive + future residual payments to Heather, Michael and Josh for acting services rendered in the original BWP, equivalent to the sum that would’ve been allotted through SAG-AFTRA, had we had proper union or legal representation when the film was made.

2. Meaningful consultation on any future Blair Witch reboot, sequel, prequel, toy, game, ride, escape room, etc…, in which one could reasonably assume that Heather, Michael & Josh’s names and/or likenesses will be associated for promotional purposes in the public sphere.

Note: Our film has now been rebooted twice, both times were a disappointment from a fan/box office/critical perspective. Neither of these films were made with significant creative input from the original team. As the insiders who created the Blair Witch and have been listening to what fans love & want for 25 years, we’re your single greatest, yet thus-far un-utilized secret-weapon!

3. “The Blair Witch Grant”: A 60k grant (the budget of our original movie), paid out yearly by Lionsgate, to an unknown/aspiring genre filmmaker to assist in making theirfirst feature film. This is a GRANT, not a development fund, hence Lionsgate will not own any of the underlying rights to the project.

A PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM THE DIRECTORS & PRODUCERS OF “THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT”:

As we near the 25th anniversary of The Blair Witch Project, our pride in the storyworld we created and the film we produced is reaffirmed by the recent announcement of a reboot by horror icons Jason Blum and James Wan.

While we, the original filmmakers, respect Lionsgate’s right to monetize the intellectual property as it sees fit, we must highlight the significant contributions of the original cast — Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Mike Williams. As the literal faces of what has become a franchise, their likenesses, voices, and real names are inseparably tied to The Blair Witch Project. Their unique contributions not only defined the film’s authenticity but continue to resonate with audiences around the world.

We celebrate our film’s legacy, and equally, we believe the actors deserve to be celebrated for their enduring association with the franchise.

Sincerely, Eduardo Sanchez, Dan Myrick, Gregg Hale, Robin Cowie, and Michael Monello

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